Tanneries

Our tanneries have been hand-picked to ensure fair wages and healthy work environments are provided for all employees. We frequently visit the tanneries to see how the environmental impacts and the health and safety of the workers are prioritised. The tanneries we work with are LWG certified, meaning that they adhere to the latest environmental standards for sustainable eco-leather.

Read on for more information about our partner tanneries.

Shee Sen Leather Pvt. Ltd.

Shee Sen Tannery is a certified leather tannery which we have had a relationship with since 2016. In 2021 they became an official supplier after the closure of Sheong Shi Tannery. The tannery is run by Sean Liao, who is passionate about producing eco-leather. His mission is to help more and more leather companies work with wet white tanned leathers. Read more about the process of Wet White Tanning here.

Shee Sen Tannery is located in the Kolkata Leather Complex, Kolkata has been a hub for the Indian leather industry for many years, and in the 1990s the West Bengal government created the Kolkata Leather Complex 20 kilometers east of the city. The complex is a self-sustaining facility with a waste water treatment plant and many other leather tanneries and factories.

Shee Sen Tannery is Leather Working Group (LWG) certified and Gold Rated, which means that they have obtained the highest possible score on important environmental topics such as water and waste management, as well as energy use and emissions.

Kolkata, India

Leather Working Group (LWG) certified, Gold Rated

A partner from 2016, and supplying us since 2021

Use of vegetable tannins

65 employees

Completed hides

Completed hides ready for production

Shaving process

Dye being applied to complete hides

Croco heat press application

Workers at the Shee Shen Tannery

Il Ponte

Our second tannery is located in the province of Florence, Italy and we’ve been working with Il Ponte since 2023. Il Ponte is one of 22 tanneries in the Tuscan region who belong to The Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata Al Vegetale, a collective certifying the traditional methods of production that require time, patience and craftsmanship. This collective ensures the highest quality leathers are produced with traditional manufacturing techniques and the environmental impact is minimal due to the rules around purification and waste management system.

Il Ponte is also a women lead company, with a heavy team focus, they now consist of 30 employees. Run by Martina and her father, their family values are carried throughout the company, resulting in great communication and true collaboration. As a female-led brand ourselves, this partnership feels especially meaningful and resonates with our values.

Operating since 1961, Il Ponte has 50+ years of experience in producing vegetable tanned leather, which has now been adapted to use only wood extracts. Due to the quality of the natural oils used, the leather has a unique softness and durability. Transparency in the manufacturing process is also a priority for Il Ponte and in 2020 they received the LWG Gold Certification which highlights industry best practices.

Vegetable tanned leather is a long and detailed process, and working with a second tannery allows us to navigate unforeseen challenges. Production delays in the leather or fluctuating shipping costs can impact the manufacturing timelines of our bags which is why we are happy to have partnered with a second tannery who share in the O My Bag values.